Lana,
Was it yesterday when we met each other? Was it only a day ago when we were strolling around the loop at LeTourneau, chatting merrily as we became friends on those balmy, Texas nights? Surely it was just yesterday when you looked at me and said, “I guess so,” when I asked you to be my girlfriend. It had to be only yesterday when we drove to Florida and back for our Honeymoon. We enjoyed that amazing hangar steak at CC Whittaker in St Louis just yesterday, right? It had to be yesterday when we pranced around Rome looking for that one place that had the insanely great gelato. Wasn’t it? Was it yesterday when we drove to the hospital through a blizzard and returned home a few days later with our beautiful Lauren? Wasn’t it yesterday when we landed in Guatemala and gazed at our princess, Carmen, for the very first time? Or when we found out that she was going to die much too soon? Was it yesterday when Hope bounced into our lives? Or when we said goodnight to Carmen for the last time on earth? Was it yesterday when we moved from MD to CA?
Where did the time go and how did it pass so quickly?
Wherever it’s gone, I am so thankful that I’ve spent the past 17 years with you. We’ve had our ups. We’ve had our downs. We’ve gone through great times and, well, pretty horrible times too. We’ve thrived and struggled.
You’ve always been there.
We love you, Mom!
Your girls are so fortunate to have you as their mom. And I’m so lucky to have you as my wife.
I pray for a great many more yesterdays with you by my side!
With all my love,
Dave
***
For this week’s “More About You Monday” question, will you please wish Lana a very Happy 36th Birthday?
Halloween is over and done with (except for the pile of candy in the pantry) but before we move on to Thanksgiving and Christmas, we’ve got a couple more pictures. Although, I’m not sure we will ever be able to top this.
Here is the purple snow princess and her neighborhood and school friend, the Southern belle.
I’m sure you all want to see another picture of Dave too! 
Well, that’s it for Halloween. Until next year!
This morning, I was scrambling around, getting ready for my Wednesday morning Bible study group. Hope was quietly and happily playing with her toys, so I ran upstairs to get dressed.
I came back downstairs a few minutes later to this:
“Hope Elizabeth Coddington! What are you doing?????!!!!!!!”
Then, I did what any exemplary mother would do. I grabbed the camera and took a picture. Because we will need proof of all of Hope’s shenanigans. Not sure what for but I suspect we will!
Hope is one curious little girl and I bet that gets her far in life. It’s so much fun to watch her learn and grow and discover. (Athough it can be nerve-wracking at times!)
***
Speaking of Hope, we recently took her to Children’s for a speech evaluation. She is still not communicating much for an almost two year old. The therapist recommended weekly therapy so we contacted our insurance about the possibility of speech being covered. Quite miraculously, our insurance will cover 90 visits per calendar year! Wow, thank you God!
